Recent geological activity along the northeastern Bulgarian Black Sea coast

Abstract

The densely populated northeastern Bulgarian Black Sea coast is a territory of intensive contemporary development. It is, though, marked by considerable recent geological activity along the coastal zone comprising: faulting, earthquakes, landslides, carthflows, rockfalls, ground subsidence, marine erosion and variations of sea level. These are locally exacerbated by the ongoing development, resulting in increased instability. Notably, a part of the coastline has been lost as a result of gravity sliding. Analysis of this recent geological coastal activity, including the landslides, carthflows and rockfalls of 1996-1997, needs be taken into account for the protection of the population and the cultural heritage.